Other than Pebble Beach, there are few world-class courses able to offer such an expanse of beach and water frontage as that we have been blessed with at Dumbarnie Links.
Of the 34,000 golf courses currently in play around the world, only 246 of them are authentic links courses. Of these, only around 40 are internationally recognized 5 Star links, and yet over thirty of these appear in The World’s Top 100 Golf Courses. The most famous is the Old Course at St Andrews on the shores of Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. Premier links are very rare and have great cachè value.
At first glance Dumbarnie Links may have the appearance of the style of the classic links courses where The Open Championship has been played since 1860. However, the extensive 345-acre site at Dumbarnie is particularly special. Its dual elevations, which are connected by a flowing escarpment, have provided the opportunity to create a number of elevated tees where holes play directly towards panoramic views of the expansive Firth of Forth. A further outstanding feature is that a number of tees and greens are in close proximity to the water. In fact, fourteen of the holes have views of the Bay and the Firth of Forth.
The design incorporates three potentially driveable Par-4s and features several holes that engender ‘risk and reward’. This course is designed to inspire rather than intimidate golfers. Total yardage for the golf course varies from 5,300 to 6,900 yards. However, there is a special set of professional tees positioned such that should an event be held at Dumbarnie sometime in the future, there are 12 extra tees whereby the course can measure up to 7,600 yards.
